Thursday, October 10, 2013

So Yeah - I've Been On A "Diet" Since I Was 8.

My dad used to make fun of the word diet. Anytime someone would say: I’m on diet,

my father would reply: Diet? What color are you going to dye it?

Yeah, he was a funny guy. I miss him.

#######

About 6 weeks before I went on my first diabetes diet.

A year or two after my diagnoses - Still on a diet. Also: GO USA

Technically, I’ve been on a diet since I was 8.

Yes, I was an extremely under weight 8 year old who downed 2500 to 3000 calories a day on doctor prescribed diet to gain weight after my type 1 diabetes DX & I literally cried from having to eat so much.

And ever since then, I’ve been on one form of another of the “many incarnations of diabetes diet."

I grew up counting diabetes exchanges and downing artificial sweeteners that caused havoc with my gastrointestinal system because I wasn't allowed regularly sweetened things - And I graduated to insulin sliding scales and counting carbs.

I've dabbled in both vegetarianism and the paleo diets - And snuck a lot of forbidden food in-between .

I’ve questioned and dared to eat a peach & have developed my share of food idiosyncrasies over the years.
During my diabetes life timem there's been a never ending assessment and diabetes math equation when it comes to the food that goes in my body - And that's turned me into a Diabetes Savant - And I bet the same goes for you if you're reading this post and live with diabetes!

I hate the word diet and what it means to living with diabetes. I hate that the word diet has made me feel less than acceptable, less attractive and less confident - And diabetes or not, no one should let word rob them of their value, self worth & self esteem.

I don’t use the word diet anymore - I'm done with the d word - I find it destructive & counter productive - At least for me.

Instead I just try and make wiser choices when it comes food - Nothing is off limits - except for liver and gizzards - but that’s a personal choice because I think liver and gizzards are disgusting.

Recently a friend mentioned to me that I should try and stay with in the caloric intake of the diabetes diet.

And I literally said: WTF, girl! Your Diabetes May Vary - And my caloric requirements are different than yours and hers and his.

I've been on an effing diet since I was 8 - And I’m sick that word and what it means.

And here’s the Ironical thing: When my blood sugars are tight, sometimes I weigh slightly more because I have more lows to treat - And when my type one diabetes runs on the high side, I l tend to drop weight and people tell me how great I look.

Do you see how effed up that is?

It’s a delicate balance and I’m always teetering on the edge of either scale - pun totally intended.

Same goes for people living with type 2 - They are always perceived as fat and over weight, and that’s not always the case - But people judge them none the less.

And if they do have lose weight - Why do we ridicule them and and call them names? That's not right either.

Dieting and weight and is never ending when you live with diabetes - And regardless of the type. So please, bring up calories to me - Calories = the word diet to me - And I’m over that word!

And kudos to my friend, because she got where I was coming from and totally understood what I was saying and we changed the subject.

But the comment still rubbed me the wrong way - Primarily because after almost 36 years of diabetes diets in all dimensions, I'm done with dieting. I'm all about choices - As in wise ones when it comes to food and blood sugars and carb counting - In my wise choices include treats every now and then - Because flexibility in the bolus worthy treat category makes eating healthy much easier :)

4 comments:

I refuse to "diet" anymore than I do BECAUSE of diabetes. I already spend all of my time counting every single piece of food that goes in my mouth for carbs. I can't deal with anything else. Should I eat less and lose some weight? Probably. But I'm not going to do it by a "diet." I'll figure it out on my own, in my own way. And I WON'T use the evil word "diet" while doing it.

Kelly, I had problems with being underweight for many years, starting when I was 6. In the 1990s there was weight gain due to switching from animal to synthetic insulin. Several years of reducing my carb intake by 40%, and increased exercise saw those extra pounds disappear. Then I began losing weight again, and increased my carb intake. Now I eat about 200 carbs per day and maintain a weight that looks and feels good. So I have never followed any particular diet.

Lauren's Hope

HealthLine Best Diabetes Blogs 2017

Healthline Best Diabetes Blogs 2016

Healthline Best Diabetes Blogs

Spare A Rose..... Save A Child

What People Are Saying About Kelly Kunik's Diabetesalicious Humor

"I laughed so hard I puked all over my pump -Just kidding......

Kelly's intimate knowledge of living with diabetes makes her the perfect person to poke fun at all of our little eccentricities. If laughter really is the best medicine, then Kelly should be nominated for Sturgeon General."Gary Scheiner - Certified Diabetes Educator, Owner & Operator of Integrated Diabetes Services, Author of "You Can Control Diabetes" and "How to Think Like A Pancreas."Marx Brothers Fan for life, T1 for 20 years .

"Kelly Kunik performed her Diabetes Comedy Act at the Diabetes, Exercise, & Sports Association (DESA) National meeting in Colorado Springs in June of 2007. She had the room laughing all night! It was great to see the light side of Diabetes for once...."

Rick Philbin, Type 1, Board of Directors, DESA

"Kelly was very engaging with her humor and positive attitude in looking at life with Diabetes on a lighter side. Everyone in my Diabetes Support group lowered their glucose levels with laughter that evening!"

Bryony Crane, RD CDE

Virtua Diabetes and Nutrition Svs

"Dr. Kelly keeps you laughing.......Great bedside manner!"

Boston Charlie - T1 30 years

"As a Diabetes Educator, I'm always looking for new ways to help patients. Kelly Kunik offers a unique way of educating patients through laughter.There's a tremendous validation in Kelly's approach - Everybody thinks that no one once else has diabetes related issues, day & day out. Whether it getting your tubing caught on a door nob; acting out with a low blood sugar, or dealing with the same old questions. Silly or serious, Kelly's observations allow patients to feel better about themselves.When people feel good about themselves, they practice betterself management. IT'S ALL GOOD.We all had so much fun the night Kelly spoke to my Type 1 support group."